Woman nominee for Appeal Court dropped

The Chief Justice of Nigeria, Justice Mariam Aloma Mukhtar, yesterday did not swear in Justice Ifeoma Jombo-Ofo listed for elevation to the Court of Appeal.

She was among the 12 justices approved by President Goodluck Jonathan for elevation.

Although no official reason was given for the action, The Nation gathered that she was not sworn-in due to a petition against her nomination.

A source said Justice Jombo-Ofo was opposed because she is not from Abia State which she claims to represent on the bench.

According to a statement from the Supreme Court, Justice Jombo-Ofo, who was called to bar in 1979, was appointed a High Court judge on November 4, 1998.

Those sworn in yesterday are: Justice Ibrahim S. Bdliya, who was called to bar in 1976 and appointed a High Court Judge on 20th August, 1987; Justice Abiriya James Shehu, called to bar in 1979 and subsequently appointed a High Court Judge on 17th September, 1993 and Obietonbara O. Daniel-Kalio who was called to Bar and became a High Court Judge in 1981 and October 30, 1995 respectively.

Others are Justices Onyekachi Otisi, called to Bar in 1980 and sworn in as a High Court Judge in November, 1998; Stephen Jonah Adah, called to Bar in 1982 and appointed a High Court Judge on 12th November, 1998; Tinuade Akomolaje-Wilson who was sworn in on May 3, 1999 having being called to Bar in 1975; and Fatima O. Akinbami who was called to Bar in 1977 and sworn in as High Court Judge on May 12, 1999.

The rest are Justices Habeeb Adewale Abiru who was called to Bar in 1985 and appointed to the High Court in May 2001; Peter Olabisi Ige, sworn in as High Court Judge on 27th June, 2001 following his call to Bar in 1985; Tijani Abubakar, called to bar in 1985 and sworn in as a High Court Judge in 2004; and Emmanuel Agim who was sworn in as a High Court Judge in 2008.

The CJN advised the appointees to adhere to the ethics of the profession and to discharge their duties without fear or favour.